Revolving display case



April 27, 1937..

C. F. SHISLER REVOLVING DISPLAY CASE Original Filed March 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 27, 1937.

C. F. SHISLER REVOLVING DISPLAY CASE Original Filed March 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1937. c. F. SHISLER REVOLVING DISPLAY CASE Original Filed March 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Ciar e Attorney April 27, 1937. sl-HSLER 2,078,612

REVOLVING DISPLAY CASE Original Filed March 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 26, 1935, Serial No.

Renewed March 3, 1937 1 Claim. (01. 312-995) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in display cases and more particularly to a case for displaying merchandise for immediate sale.

An important object of the invention is to provide a rotary case in which meat and other perishable goods can be placed and attractively displayed.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a revolving display case divided into a plurality of radial areas separably illuminated and having switch means associated therewith whereby each area will become illuminated as it reaches the front side of the case.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of the case.

Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view through the case.

Figure 3 represents a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view principally through the drive means for the case.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of one of the pivotal windows.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view of one of the window frames.

Figure 7 represents a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 7-? of Figure 1.

Figure 8 represents a. diagrammatic view of the electrical connection between the switch means, lamps and source of energy.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the spacers.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a housing for the drive mechanism, this housing being provided with a well 6 in the top thereof for containing the hearing i through which the vertical shaft 3 extends, this shaft 8 extending vertically and. axially through the case proper generally referred to by numeral s, and also depending into the housing 5'.

The case 9 includes a top it and a bottom ii.

0 It will be observed that the case is preferably of polygonal shape in horizontal section, which shape defines multiple sides, each of which contains a column of pivotal windows as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The top and bottom walls ill-ii are connected by vertical posts l2, each pair of adjacent posts defining the width of one side of the case, while the top and bottom walls ln-l I define the height of the particular side. Within each side of the case and suitably set in a rabbet is the window frame l3 which is of rectangular shape and provided with cross members H at regular intervals as clearly shown in Figure 1. These cross members H in conjunction with the frame l3 define window spaces and each of the cross members It is on a line with a shelf l5. There are any number of vertically spaced shelves in the case, suitably secured to and supported by the posts l2.

At this point it will be observed, that the shaft 8 extends upwardly through the shelves l5 and through the top H) of the case where it is threaded and equipped with a nut It. The shaft 8 is keyed to the base plate Ila of the case, the latter in turn being secured to the case. Fabricated spacers I! are of longitudinally tapered O tubular construction, with the small ends thereof fitting into the large ends thereof in the manner shown in Figure 2 to provide a continuous conduit for electrical wires to the lamps 5i, the spacers being fabricated to afford openings as 25 shown in Figure 9 through which the wires can t be trained.

Within each of the window spacers aforementioned is a pivotal sash i8 containing a transparent pane it, each sash it being provided at its 30 lower corner with pintles or trunnions 20 which engage into corresponding openings 2| in the frame l3. (See Figure 6.)

Between the uppermost shelf l5 and the next underlying shelf i5 is a tubular container 22 35 surrounding the shaft 8 and adjacent the spacer l'i. This container is intended to receive ice or some other agent for reducing the temperature of the air within the case. The container 22 is provided with a drain pipe 23 and underlies an 40 opening 2 in the overlying shelf which is normally provided with a cover 25.

As is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 the upper compartment of the case is provided with a removable display tray 26 which assumes the inclined position shown in Figure 2. This tray as clearly shown in Figure 3 is of segmental shape of a sector suitable for displaying merchandise to one side of the case.

The drive means for the case in addition to the aforementioned shaft 8 is contained within the housing 5 and involves an electric motor 27, on the armature shaft 28 on which is located the worm 29. The worm 29 meshes with the circumferentially grooved gear 30 on the shaft 3 l, which 55 2 aovaeia shaft 3| carries a worm 32 which in turn meshes with the grooved gear 33 which is rotatably mounted on the lower portion of the shaft 8 and is supported by the bearing plate 34 which is secured to the shaft 8.

The gear 33 is provided with the crown 35 having clutch teeth which are meshable with the clutch teeth of the slide collar 36, this slide collar being operative on the shaft 8 and being splined thereto as at 31. The collar 36 is circumferentially grooved as at 38 and into this engages the pintles 39 on the yoke 40. The yoke 40 is provided with an arm 4| which extends horizontally through an opening 42 in the housing 6 and is provided with the downtumed outer end portion 43 terminating in a foot plate or pedal 44. A pivotal catch 45 is mounted adjacent the pedal 44 so that when desired the pedal can be retained depressed to maintain the clutch disengaged. 0 The housing 5 is provided with ears 46 to which the arm 4! is pivotally connected as at 41.

It will be observed in Figures 1, 4 and '7, that the housing 5 carries an arcuate shaped dielectric body 48 carrying a pair of contact strips 48 against which the spring brushes 50- 50 on the 7 bottom side of the bottom II are capable of wiping. This contact block and the strips 49 are located at the front side of the cabinet so 1 that as the contacts 50 engage the strips 49 the bulbs in the compartments above the particular side will become energized. More particularly when the contacts ride off of the conductors 48' and the compartments on that side become darkened, the contacts of the succeeding side of the case commence to engage with the strip '49 and result in the illumination of this last mentioned side of the case, so that there is only one side of the case illuminated at a time as it passes a point of best observation by passersby.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A case of the character described comprising a vertically disposed cabinet, a drive mechanism housing, a vertical shaft supported by the housing and supporting the said cabinet, means in the housing for rotating the said shaft, said cabinet being of polygonal shape in horizontal sections, said cabinet being provided with a plurality of horizontal shelves vertically spaced and tubular spacers on the shaft for spacing the shelves apart, said spacers being of tapered construction, with the lower reduced ends thereof fitting into the enlarged ends of underlying spacers, and each shelf resting upon the enlarged.- upper end of a.

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CHARLES F. smsma. 

